Question about a tumbler

[Roscue2]

The tumbler in the photo below is a Vibratory Tumbler that is sold at Harbor Freight. We've had it for about a year, but it has never really cleaned the coins we put into it. All its ever done is bang the dirt off of the coins and then deposit it onto the tumblers walls. What I want to know is whether or not we can get the tumbler to actually make the coins somewhat "shiny" again. Does anyone own one of these?? If so, is there anything we can do to get it to clean the coins?????

Here's some info. on the tumbler and what we use in it:
1. The second photo shows the metal triangles and red, white, and blue aquarium gravel that we use to try and clean the coins. There is also some very small metal dust in the tumbler. Should we be using some other combination of materials???
2. I know there are other tumblers on the market that can use liquids to help clean the coins, but this one cannot use any liquids WHATSOEVER.
3. One of the things I have realized that my dad is doing is mixing the pennies with all the rest of the clad. Does this matter since there are no liquids involved?????

I know there are other tumblers that are capable of using liquids while they are cleaning coins, but I would rather stick with this one until I am sure that it isn't capable of cleaning coins.

Any info. or advice on using this tumbler would be much appreciated. Thanx in advance.

 

[cwilk]

You need a rotary tumbler.

Chris

 

[John-Edmonton]

You will never get a shiny gloss on a coin from either tumbling them or vibrating them like they were brand new. You will however get the dirt off of them. Never mix pennies with the other coins, as they other clad can get stained. Your results are typical of mine.

 

[Roscue2]

Thanx you Cwilk and John.

 

[Uncle Willy]

You should have gotten their rotary tumbler. It will clean the coins up in a heart beat and put a shine on them. Catch them on sale and they're only about twenty bucks otherwise they are about $32.00 or so.. Been using them for years.

Bill

 

[Roscue2]

Yeah, Uncle Willy, I planned on getting the single barrel one, but the local Harbor Freight said they don't stock them anymore. Either that or they sold out. Said they'd get another shipment on Monday, but by them the sale would be over. This week was the first time in over a year that they've been in the sales paper that comes in the mail. So I decided to buy the double barrel one for $43.79. Sale price=$39.99, regular price=$49.99. So I saved about $12.

 

[cwilk]

You'll find enough to fill both sides or maybe one side for your old man, one side for you.

Chris

 

[dirtydon]

I don't know just how the action of your unit works but with the tumblers I use I put in a hand full of aquarium stone, a table spoon of dish washing soap. enough water to fill it up and run it for about 1/2 hour. Dump out the dirty water, rinse good and replace with clean water and soap and run again for another 1/2 hour. Rinse it again and replace the soap and water and let it run for about 1 hour. That should do it. If not, repeat it a few more times. If you don't change the water frequently the dirt will get back into the coins. Again, don't mix pennies with other coins or it will discolor the other coins and you won't get the stain out.

 

[Uncle Willy]

I use aquarium gravel or steel BB's, concentrated cleaner, a dash of thick shampoo, half a brillo pad, some water, let it run overnight and bingo - clean coins.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Hey that'll work. Here's a tip. The drive belts go bananas once in awhile ( and they ain't cheap ) so get a bag of big, quarter-inch, rubber bands. They last about as long as the belts and are dirt cheap.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah, group tumbling.

Bill